Two girls killed in Auburn crash Sunday night

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Two teenage girls, aged 13 and 17, were killed when the SUV in which they were riding flipped on Auburn-Folsom Road Sunday night.

A 17-year-old boy, an Auburn resident, was driving a 2002 white Chevrolet Tahoe southbound at an unknown rate of speed at approximately 7:35 p.m., said California Highway Patrol Officer David Martinez. He was transporting five passengers, all teenagers, a violation of his provisional driver’s license.

According to Martinez, the boy has only had his license for about four months.

For reasons still under investigation, the driver lost control of the Tahoe and ran off the roadway, causing the front-end of the Chevy to collide with a guardrail and metal fence, the CHP reported. After these two impacts, the SUV traveled through the fence and overturned onto its right side in a pasture area.

The two girls, who were sitting in the right rear seats and not wearing their seatbelts, were partially ejected and sustained fatal injuries, Martinez said. They were pronounced dead at the scene by firefighter personnel. They have been identified as Morgan Helman, 17, of Carmichael, and Vivian Conner, 13, of Newcastle. One additional 16-year-old girl was transported to Sutter Roseville Medical Center by ambulance with moderate injuries. All other occupants of the vehicle were released to their parents at the scene.

A driver’s license check determined the driver was driving with a provisional driver’s license, restricting him from transporting passengers under the age of 20, Martinez said. During the first 12 months after issuance of a provisional license, the licensee cannot drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. or transport anyone younger than 20 unless accompanied and supervised by a licensed driver who is the licensee’s parent or guardian, a licensed driver who is 25 years of age or older or a licensed or certified driving instructor.